Utah’s Five-Time NBA Mascot of the Year
with a State Holiday to Prove It!
Salt Lake City, UT · Basketball
★Mascot Hall of Fame — Class of 2006
| Team / Organization | Utah Jazz |
|---|---|
| Location | Salt Lake City, UT |
| League / Division | NBA |
| First Debuted | November 4, 1994 (Delta Center; debut stunt: rappelling from the rafters) |
| Species / Type | Bear (anthropomorphic, brown-furred grizzly) |
| Best Known For | 5× NBA Mascot of the Year; ring-of-fire dunks; 20-foot ladder handstands; $1 million+ raised for charity |
| Year Inducted | 2006 |
Profile
Jazz Bear made his debut by rappelling from the rafters at the Delta Center — a stunt the NBA promptly banned league-wide. He’s been finding creative alternatives ever since. Original performer Jon Absey wore the suit for 24 years, accumulating 13 surgeries and 25 torn ligaments along the way. In recognition of his 20th season, then-Utah Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as “Jazz Bear Day” in Utah.
Fun Facts
- Jon Absey, the original Jazz Bear from 1994 to 2018, completed over 4,000 slam dunks, climbed more than 1,100 ladders during games, and raised over $1 million for more than 300 different charities over his career.
- The Jazz Bear moonlighted as the temporary mascot for the Utah Hockey Club (NHL) during its inaugural 2024–25 season while the expansion team’s permanent mascot, Tusky, was being developed.
- Governor Gary Herbert declared October 10, 2013 as ‘Jazz Bear Day’ in Utah, citing the mascot’s 20th season and ‘countless hours of community and public service’ — a rare gubernatorial shoutout to a furry sports character.
Links
🎵 TikTok
▶️ YouTube
